Warren's Aedric Robinson is brought down by Rocket defenders Cashon Grice (8) and Sean Eddington as Judson plays Warren in the second round of 5A football playoffs at Rutledge Stadium on November 22, 2013.

Photo By For the San Antonio Express-News

Rocket running back Jauchai Pullen breaks away from Trey Lealaimatafao (55) and Edward Andrew as Judson plays Warren in the second round of 5A football playoffs at Rutledge Stadium on November 22, 2013.

Photo By For the San Antonio Express-News

Rocket receiver Andr Wilson sprints into the open as Judson plays Warren in the second round of 5A football playoffs at Rutledge Stadium on November 22, 2013.

The Judson Rockets head south for the holidays to face the Laredo United Longhorns in the third round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs.

The 2 p.m. Friday kick-off in Cabaniss Field in Corpus Christi represents the Rockets' deepest run into the state playoffs since its 2007 state finals appearance in the Alamodome, a 13-10 loss to Euless Trinity.

Judson used a huge second half Friday to earn the Corpus Christi trip, waking up at halftime to shell the Warren Warriors, 50-15, at Rutledge Stadium.

It took most of one half to thaw out the Rockets' three-pronged rushing attack in the second-round contest.

Judson trailed 8-6 late in the first quarter before running back Brandon Sanders broke off a 54-yard run around left end to the Warren 23-yard line. Four plays later, Malik Pryor ranaround the right side for the score, and a two-point conversion gave Judson the lead — and the momentum — at halftime.

“When we scored late like that, it took away their momentum. They had just scored, and we took it back form them,” Smith said. “Our guys just executed our game plan in the second half.”

Pryor and tailback Jo'Von Kyle carried the ball for 35 yards on the Rocket's second possession of the second half, setting up a 1-yard touchdown dive by quarterback RayJohn Austin-Ramsey. Pryor's two-point conversion gave Judson a 22-8 lead.

After a quick three-and-out for Warren, Andre Wilson fielded a punt at the Judson 40, eluded at least three Warrior tacklers and ran for ascore.

Minutes later, after the Rocket defense forced another three-and-out with one of its five quarterback sacks, Wilson took a handoff and sprinted 24 yards for another score, giving the Rockets a 36-8 lead.

But Judson didn't let up. After a third straight three-and-out , the Rockets mounted a scoring drive ending in a two-yard Pryor run early in the fourth quarter. .

“We've got a great talented group of kids, and we were able to do what we had to do,” Smith said. “When you've got guys like Kyle, Pryor, Sanders, Wilson, and (Cedric) Williams out there, it's hard for a defense to really key on any one guy.”

Sanders and Kyle each logged nine carries, with Sanders gaining 112 yard and Kyle 85. Pryor's six carries yielded just 28 yards but two touchdowns. Austin-Ramseycompleted 5 of 10 passes for 64 yards and carried nine times for 28 yards and a touchdown.

The Rockets held Warren to 226 yards of offense, denying the Warriors on four of five, fourth-down conversion attempts and sacking Warren's quarterback five times.